Michigan violations minor, report says

FROM EXAMINER STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Published 4:00 am, Friday, October 10, 1997

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A law firm hired by the University of Michigan to investigate its men's basketball program found only three minor NCAA violations, the school said Thursday without offering a vote of confidence for coach Steve Fisher.

But a partner with the law firm behind the seven-month investigation cautioned that the university's differentiation of major and minor was open to interpretation.

The 250-page report has been forwarded to the NCAA, which can accept the findings or pursue its own investigation.

*The University of Louisville did not disclose conflicting information in some key areas when it made a report to the NCAA about some problems with the men's basketball program, the Courier-Journal reported.

What was omitted from the 16-page report could affect what penalties, if any, the NCAA decides to levy against the program.

*The Ventura College men's basketball program was hit with major sanctions by the Western State Conference that included stripping the junior college of league championships it won the last two years, all victories of the last two seasons under former coach Virgil Watson, and no postseason competition the next two seasons.

The sanctions are in response to at least 11 rules violations, including recruiting violations and providing players with money and free meals.

Penske fires Tracy&lt;

READING, Pa. - IndyCar driver Paul Tracy, whose once promising season gave way to a bout with vertigo and a rash of poor finishes, was fired by Marlboro Team Penske and replaced by Andre Ribeiro.

Tracy, 28, had a year left on his contract. No reason was given for his dismissal.

*Billy Boat zipped around the Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a lap of 207.413 mph to knock teammate Davey Hamilton off the pole for Saturday's Las Vegas 500, the last Indy Racing League event of the season.

German women beat U.S.&lt;

DUISBURG, Germany - Germany ended the United States women's soccer team's 12-game international unbeaten streak and 30-game overall unbeaten run with a 3-1 win in international friendly competition.

*Italian midfielder Roberto Donadoni, one of the prime signings for Major League Soccer last year, said he will leave the New York / New Jersey MetroStars and return to his former club AC Milan.

Courier, Stark advance&lt;

SINGAPORE - Americans Jim Courier and Jonathan Stark and Swedes Thomas Johansson and Magnus Gustafsson won their matches to advance to the quarterfinals of the Heineken Open.

Courier, the No. 3 seed, had the toughest fight, from Michael Tebbutt of Australia, before winning in a tiebreaker, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2).

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